After falling below growth neutral in November, the Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index, a leading economic indicator for the nine-state region stretching from Oklahoma to Minnesota to Arkansas, bounced above the 50.0 growth neutral threshold in December. The report showed Oklahoma, after sinking below growth neutral in November, rose to 50.5 from 43.2 …
Maintenance caused temporary shutdown for OKC utilities payment system
Over the weekend, the OKC Utilities customer portal, mobile app, and all Utilities payment systems were taken offline temporarily so staff could perform planned system maintenance. All systems were scheduled to be operational by 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16. However, we are extending system maintenance for okcutilities.com, the My OKC Utilities mobile app, and all …
Energy quick reads
** Oil and gas company Talos Energy said on Monday it will acquire privately held QuarterNorth Energy in a $1.29 billion cash and stock deal to bolster its presence in Mexico. ** A Massachusetts wind project, which recently became the first utility-scale offshore wind project to deliver electricity to the grid, wouldn’t have been financially viable if …
Global crude oil prices dropped on Monday
Because of the Martin Luther King Junior federal holiday, there was no oil trading prices reported in the U.S. However, prices weakened slightly Monday because of the impact of the Middle East conflict. Global benchmark Brent crude was traded and settled down 14 cents or aabout 0.2% at $78.15 a barrel on ICE Futures Europe. …
Power pool continues with cold weather advisory
The Southwest Power Pool said Monday it would extend its current Cold Weather Advisory through an anticipated end time of 12 a.m. Central Time Sunday, Jan. 21. Oklahoma is a member of the grid which includes 13 other states. The latest extension pushes the advisory from a previous anticipated end time of 6 p.m. …
Medical authorities offer tips to avoid frostbite
All it takes is about 30 minutes in the frigid weather of Oklahoma this week to suffer frostbite. It’s the warning from the Emergency Medical Services Authority in Oklahoma City. “Spending 30 minutes in the cold weather, that’s enough time to have frostbite,” Nemuel Gutierrez-Diaz, District Chief for EMSA told Fox 25 News. “Frostbite, …
Energy quick reads
** Former U.S. senator and secretary of state John Kerry will leave his post as President Joe Biden‘s special climate envoy after three years but will help Biden’s re-election campaign, two administration sources said on Saturday. ** The Biden administration unveiled a new regulatory proposal Friday that would introduce a new tax on the fossil fuel industry, punishing producers that …
Natural gas output drops during frigid weather
The frigid weather in Texas and Oklahoma and the rest of the Midwest resulted in a drop in U.S.natural gas output to an 11-month low. Gas demand for heating and power generation was about to hit record highs and in Texas, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) forecast electric demand on Tuesday would …
API calls on congress to revoke EPA methane mandated fees
The Biden administration’s recently announced plans to fine oil and gas operators for methane emissions is being fought by the American Petroleum Institute. The group, representing nearly 600 members and the oil and gas industry’s nearly 11 million U.S. jobs came out against the EPA’s proposed rule to establish a fee on methane emissions …
Rep. Hern relates of impoverished childhood to implore House to vote down Biden rule
A bill aimed at overturned the National Labor Relations Board recent joint employer rule was recently passed in the House with the support of all five Oklahoma Representatives. Rep.Kevin Hern said the joint rule would harm small businesses by holding a company liable for employees they do not directly employ or control. The resolution …